Mark Holmwood, 41, had been drinking with pals at a house in Elm Road, Blaydon, Gateshead, for more than 24 hours when he went to bed complaining of a sore ankle.

A friend went to check on him in the early hours, and found the dad-of-four wedged behind the bedroom door, on the floor.

The concerned pal asked if Mr Holmwood was all right, and when he mumbled a reply, his mate left him and went back to the party downstairs.

But tragically, just a few hours later, shortly after 8am, the friends found Mr Holmwood had died.

A major police investigation was launched, as it was believed he could have died as a result of head injuries sustained during an earlier fight.

But at an inquest into his death, it was revealed his injuries could have been caused by either a fight or a fall, as his pals heard a thud from the room where he was sleeping.

In the days following Mr Holmwood’s death in September last year, police appealed for witnesses to an assault in The Geordie Ridley Pub in Wesley Court, Blaydon, where he was drinking before he died.

Police made two arrests in connection with that incident and another earlier in the day, but both men were released without charge.

Although Mr Holmwood’s injuries were potentially fatal, experts cannot say for certain that the head injuries which killed him were caused by the fall or the fights.

Home Office pathologist Stuart Hamilton told the inquest: “There was evidence of injuries to the brain and these injuries had been sustained less than 48 hours, and probably less than 24 hours, before death.

“It could kill you, but it wouldn’t have to kill you. Some people could have survived these injuries.”

However, Dr Hamilton also ruled out the possibility that he died of drink alone, after tests showed there was just twice the legal drink-drive amount of alcohol in his blood.

Det Sgt Sean McGuigan described Mr Holmwood’s life as “chaotic”.

The divorcee, who normally lived with his parents, is believed to have briefly been staying in the hostel.

Det Sgt McGuigan said: “It is fair to say his lifestyle was chaotic in the weeks and months prior to his death.

“Family and friends all commented on the fact he used to be quite a big man and he had significantly deteriorated in his appearance.”

The fights, the fall and hours of drinking proved to be a fatal combination, but Gateshead coroner Terence Carney said it is impossible to establish exactly what killed Mr Holmwood.

Recording an open verdict, he said: “Because of the fact that we cannot be sure how sequentially these injuries have affected the outcome and how they have occurred, the appropriate verdict is one of an open verdict.”